Transparent switch boot



May 21, 1963 M. MORSE TRANSPARENT SWITCH BooT Filedpct. 51

United States Patent 3,090,855 TRANSPARENT SWITCH BOOT Milton Morse, 41Honeck St., Riverdale, N. Filed Oct. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 149,110 2Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates generally to the field ofilexible protective sealing devices adapted to be positioned around theexposed portions of an electric switch or other control mounted in acontrol panel or other surface in such manner that the control may beoperated through the protective device by deforming the same, and moreparticularly to an improved form of such device for use in conjunctionwith controls having a rectangular exposed mounting flange.

it is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved switch boot which may be easily installed in sealed positionabout vthe exposed portions of a rectangularly shaped control withoutthe use of tools, to form an effective seal about such frame against theexposed surface of a panel in which the control is mounted.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch bootsealing device of the class described in which a portion of the same maybe readily detached to permit inspection and/or servicingl of thecontrol disposed therebeneath.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch bootof the class described having a transparent component flexibly overlyingthe normally fingerengaged surface of the control, thereby particularlyadapting the device for use in conjunction with self-illuminatedswitches.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a switchboot device of the class described and possessed of the aboveadvantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably loworder, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of ribbed means on thetransparent element comprising the device for purposes of preventing thesame from sticking to the normally linger-engaged control surface.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a two-pieceswitch boot, in which one element thereof is more or less permanentlyinstalled about the rectangular frame of the control, the other partbeing readily selectively engageable and disengageable therewith.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of an embodimentof the invention in installed condition.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmentary sectional view showing the structureof FIGURE 1 in disassembled condition.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a boot element comprising a part of theembodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of a mounting frame element comprising apart of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a pushbutton type switch withwhich the embodiment is used.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated byreference character 10, is illustrated in the drawings in use inconjunction with the rectangular frame 11 of a push-button type switch12 having a projecting 3,090,855 Patented May 2l, 1963 rectangularbutton 13 disposed within the frame 11, the details of which form nopart of the present dis closure, and which need not be furtherdescribed. Controls or switches of this type are normally positionedwithin a rectangular opening in a panel 16, the frame 11 overlying theedges of the opening, and contacting the outer surface of the panel 16.The device 10 is adapted to t over the frame 11, and to partially extendbetween the overhanging portion of the frame 11 and the outer surface ofthe panel 16. It comprises broadly a mounting frame element 14 and aboot element 15.

The mounting frame element 14 is preferably formed as a stamping, usingprogressive die technique or similar forming means. It includes acontinuous side wall 17, a continuous upper flange 18, and a pair offrameengaging lower flanges 19 and 20.

The side wall 17 is of rectangular configuration corresponding to thatof the frame 11, including a pair of longer portions 22 and 23, a firstshorter portion 24 -disposed at right angles with respect thereto, and acutaway shorter portion 25 disposed opposite the portion 24. The portion25 is sufficiently shallow to permit the same to readily pass over theframe 11 during engagement, as will more clearly appear hereinafter. Tofacilitate forming operation, the juncture of the portions 22, 23 and 24are provided with arcuate cutout portions at 26 and 27.

The continuous upper flange 18 includes longer portions 29 and 30, aswell as shorter portions 31 and 32 interconnected by curved portions 33,34, 35 and 36.

The lower flanges 19 and 20 are generally similar, and include angularlydisposed leading edges 39 and 40 to facilitate insertion beneath theframe 11 upon engagement therewith.

The boot element 15 is also rectangular in configuration, and includes ametallic support member 44 and a resilient member 45 bonded to the innersurface thereof.

The member 44 is also preferably formed as a stamping, and includes aplanar outer wall 47, and a continuons integrally-formed side wall 48.The planar wall 47 includes an outer surface '49, an inner surface 50,as well as side edges 51, 52, 53 and 54. A centrally disposed opening 55corresponds in dimensions to the button 13 of the switch 12, beingbounded by rectilinear edges 56, 57, 58 and 59.

The resilient member 45 is formed of transparent resilient syntheticresinous material, and preferably transparent silicon rubber. The member45 is preferably molded within the member 44 to be bonded thereto at thetime of curing of the material from which the member 45 is formed. Itincludes a ribbed upper planar wall 61, a continuous side wall 62 lyingwithin the side wall 48, as well as a continuous flange 63 which formsthe seal against the panel 16. The ribs form the equivalent of a Fresnellens to facilitate viewing therethrough, and prevent the formation of anair seal between the inner surface of the walls 61 and the switch. Acontinuous groove 64 is positioned immediately below the wall 61, and isselectively engageable with the upper ange 18 upon installation.

The device 10 is preferably installed prior to the tightening of theframe 11 within the opening in the panel 16, to permit engagement of thelower anges 19 and 20 with the inner surfaces of the frame 11. Theengagement is performed in a sliding manner, the cutaway shorter portion25 passing over the frame 11, the button 13 being momentarily depressedto permit clearance. Once positioned, the frame element 14 is retainedby the tightening of the frame 11 against the panel 16. The boot element15 is installed by pushing the same directly over the frame element 1'4,until the groove 64 engages the ange 18. In this position,

the ange 63 is resiliently urged against the outer surface of the panel16, to provide an efective seal, and manipulation offthe button '1-3 isaccomplished by pushing upon the wall 14 which fieXes under lightpressure. Should it be desirable to inspect the switch 12, it isnecessary only to disengage -the boot element 15 'by pulling outwardlythereupon, the-frame element 14 remaining in position during suchinspection.

V I wish itto-be'understood that` I do not consider the inventionlimited to theprecisendetails of structure shown andV set forth in thisspecicatio, for obvious modifications -will occur to those skilled inthe art towhich the invention pertains.

I claim: 1

1. Aehermetic boot for use in conjunction with a. panel-mountedpush-button control, having an outwardly extending generallyYrectangular frame, comprising: a 1 mounting framevelement and a bootelement, said mountingframe element including rst ange means slidablyengageable with a portion of said rectangular frame, and

second flange means lying in a plane-substantially parallel y to theplane of said irst'ange means, said boot element including a exiblemember of configuration corresponding to that of said mounting frameelement, and having groove means selectivelyl engageable Iwith saidsecond flange means, and a continuous flange adapted to bear against anoutwardly disposed surface of said panel upon to the plane ofsaidrstzange means, said boot element including a flexible member ofconfiguration correspond ing tofthat of said mounting frame element,Vand having groove means selectively engageable lwith said -ksecondflange means, and a continuous flange adapted to bear againstanoutwardly disposed surface of said panel upon engagement of saidgroove means with said second ange means, said boot element including ametallic frame member surrounding said resilient member in sealedrelation and overlying said groove means.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HorningFeb. 29, 1944 Kinsman Aug. 22, 1961

1. A HERMETIC BOOT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PANEL-MOUNTEDPUSH-BUTTON CONTROL, HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING GENERALLY RECTANGULARFRAME, COMPRISING: A MOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT AND A BOOT ELEMENT, SAIDMOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT INCLUDING FIRST FLANGE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLEWITH A PORTION OF SAID RECTANGULAR FRAME, AND SECOND FLANGE MEANS LYINGIN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST FLANGEMEANS, SAID BOOT ELEMENT INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE MEMBER OF CONFIGURATIONCORRESPONDING TO THAT OF SAID MOUNTING FRAME ELEMENT, AND HAVING GROOVEMEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND FLANGE MEANS, AND ACONTINUOUS FLANGE ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST AN OUTWARDLY DISPOSED SURFACEOF SAID PANEL UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GROOVE MEANS WITH SAID SECONDFLANGE MEANS, SAID BOOT ELEMENT INCLUDING A METALLIC FRAME MEMBERSURROUNDING SAID RESILINET MEMBER IN SEALED RELATION.